While the Thymes students halted their advance, Zhang Wen quickly increased the distance between himself and them, pausing to catch his breath at a distance of about fifteen meters.
Simultaneously controlling two Thymes students was an extremely risky move for Zhang Wen, and it drained a great deal of his energy. The difficulty of controlling one martial artist was nothing compared to the challenge of controlling two at the same time—it was not a simple matter of adding one and one!
To put it in perspective, if controlling a sixth-stage martial artist was like balancing a coin upright on a table, then controlling two sixth-stage martial artists wasn’t as simple as balancing two coins—it was more like balancing a second coin on top of the first one already standing upright!
Frankly speaking, Zhang Wen had made such a risky choice only out of desperation. Fortunately, his gamble paid off, and the results were exactly as he had anticipated.
“Well then, do you believe me now?” Griffiths picked up his crystal-energy sword from the floor and proudly strutted toward his group of companions, loudly challenging them.
“Uh…” Several Thymes students who had just criticized Griffiths wore expressions of shame, too embarrassed to respond. Regardless of how implausible Griffiths’ explanation sounded, the facts proved he had been right.
“Hey, Griffiths, we admit we were wrong about you just now. But I don’t think this is really the time to talk about it,” a few more level-headed Thymes students chimed in. They hurried forward, pointing nervously toward Zhang Wen, who had once again distanced himself from them.
“Tsk…” Griffiths followed their gaze, and his eyes landed on Zhang Wen, prompting an exasperated click of his tongue.
The techniques Zhang Wen had displayed in rapid succession had left a deep impression on Griffiths and his companions. What left the Thymes students even more bewildered was that they still couldn’t figure out exactly how Zhang Wen had done it! From start to finish, they had genuinely felt no trace of martial energy from him. Yet, he had somehow managed to control even a seventh-stage martial artist’s body!
This made the Thymes students realize that this seemingly inexplicable—no, more accurately, “mysterious”—physical arts instructor from Almace Academy was far more formidable than they had imagined.
No one could figure out how his “sorcery” worked or how to counter it. Looking at the four or five companions still lying on the ground, wounded by their own allies, the remaining Thymes students couldn’t help but question whether they would ultimately come out on top if they continued fighting this guy.
However, the Thymes students present were also well aware that they were now in a situation where retreat was impossible.
After all, these privileged ruffians from Thymes had gone to great lengths, even going so far as to kidnap female students from Almace Academy, just to lure Zhang Wen into their trap. If they simply let him go now, by morning they would become the biggest laughingstock in Thymes Academy’s history.
Faced with this dilemma, Griffiths, the de facto leader among the Thymes students, made a firm decision.
“There’s no choice! Everyone, charge together! I refuse to believe this guy can keep using his sorcery forever!” Griffiths gritted his teeth, suddenly slashing his crystal-energy sword forward and shouting fiercely at his companions.
“Right!” Griffiths’ words reignited a sense of unity among the Thymes students. They responded with grim determination, launching their third full-scale attack against Zhang Wen.
Of course, compared to the previous two attacks, this third assault clearly lacked the earlier confidence of assured victory, replaced instead by a sense of grim determination to fight despite knowing the odds were against them.
The resulting shift in momentum made the Thymes students’ attack even more disorganized—making it even easier for Zhang Wen to exploit his combat techniques.
Even without the support of Spring Water Techniques’ martial energy, Zhang Wen continued to weave effortlessly through the remaining dozen or so chaotic Thymes students, using his nimble footwork and precise judgment.
The Thymes students charged at Zhang Wen like waves of suicide attackers, only to fall one by one, struck by their own bewildered comrades.
Moreover, due to the sheer disorder of the Thymes students’ attacks, Zhang Wen could no longer control their movements with the same precision as before. He could only instinctively react to each incoming strike, redirecting it in a random direction.
As a result, the Thymes students inevitably ended up injuring each other. Within just a few minutes, six more of them had fallen, victims of their comrades’ blades.
The agonized screams of their wounded companions and the blood gushing from their wounds deeply unsettled the so-called “geniuses” of Thymes Academy. Many of them had always enjoyed watching martial arts matches and had even been stirred by the bloody scenes in the arena. But now, as they realized that the bloodshed could just as easily be their own, none of them felt any sense of excitement—only growing fear.
Finally, the girl who had earlier pulled out a surveillance device to film Zhang Wen was the first to break. After narrowly avoiding a slash across her face from a companion’s blade, her already sluggish movements froze completely.
“No… no… please!” Her eyes widened in terror, her voice trembling as she muttered a few words before suddenly letting out a scream, dropping her crystal-energy sword and bolting toward the exit of the training hall.
The girl’s flight triggered a chain reaction among the Thymes students. One after another, they soon abandoned their attacks on Zhang Wen, screaming in panic as they fled toward the exit.
In the chaos, the students who shut the door behind them forgot who had the key. So they simply raised their crystal-energy swords and cut the lock off the training hall’s door.
Clang! The crystal-energy swords severed the iron lock and struck heavily against the steel door of the training hall, producing a loud metallic crash.
“Hmph! Cowards!” Griffiths shouted furiously at his fleeing companions.
During the earlier melee, Griffiths had been the most aggressive, and thus the one most frequently “controlled” by Zhang Wen and the one most often struck by his comrades. His fear of Zhang Wen’s “sorcery” was far greater than that of the others. Watching his companions flee, Griffiths, who had been holding on by sheer grit, could no longer endure.
As for the injured lying on the ground, Griffiths could only apologize silently in his heart. After all, Zhang Wen was at least an instructor from Almace Academy, and he wouldn’t go so far as to kill them.
Just as Griffiths faked a strike and prepared to escape himself, he suddenly noticed, to his shock, that the Thymes students who had just fled were all walking back in, heads drooping.
What now? Griffiths was stunned. He certainly didn’t believe his companions had suddenly had a change of heart and returned to help him. Seeing their dejected expressions, Griffiths knew immediately—they must have been driven back. And whoever had forced these “geniuses” into obedient lambs could be counted on one hand among Thymes Academy’s faculty.
Regardless of which of those powerful figures had sent them back, Griffiths and his companions had certainly made a complete fool of themselves today.
Damn it! Griffiths cursed inwardly, quickly sheathing his crystal-energy sword and stepping toward his returned companions.
“It’s Instructor Gelt, Professor Enklay, and a female instructor from Almace Academy’s physical arts department named Irina,” a Thymes student who was close to Griffiths reported gloomily.
“Oh!” Griffiths nodded in understanding, finally realizing why his companions had suddenly become so obedient.
In front of Gelt, the top physical arts instructor at Thymes Academy, even Link, the self-proclaimed “greatest genius in Thymes history,” would behave respectfully. Naturally, Griffiths and his self-styled “geniuses” had even less courage to act recklessly.
Seeing Griffiths and the returning Thymes students obediently standing aside like well-behaved children, Zhang Wen guessed that instructors from Thymes Academy must have arrived. He therefore ignored Griffiths and his group and instead walked directly to the three girls, casually cutting the ropes binding them.
Soon after, all the Thymes students who had fled the training hall were driven back inside. Then Irina entered, followed by two Thymes instructors with grim expressions.
Among the two Thymes instructors, Enklay had met Zhang Wen several times in Casares, so Zhang Wen recognized him immediately. The other instructor, a tall, broad-shouldered man with a thick beard, was unfamiliar to Zhang Wen. However, upon seeing the five-star insignia on his shoulder, Zhang Wen understood—he was none other than Gelt, the head instructor of Thymes Academy’s physical arts department and a Saint-tier martial artist.
As they stepped into the training hall, Irina and the two Thymes instructors were immediately met with the sight of injured students scattered across the floor. The sight of their bloodied wounds and the pools of blood on the ground darkened the instructors’ expressions even further.
“Teacher Zhang Wen,” Gelt coldly glared at the flustered Griffiths before turning his gaze toward Zhang Wen. “Our students were unruly and played a prank on the visiting delegation’s teacher. That was indeed their fault. We understand your decision to discipline them. However, as a representative instructor of the physical arts department, injuring students so severely—don’t you think that’s going too far, Teacher Zhang?”
“Too far?” Gelt’s cold and angry tone caused Zhang Wen to let out a laugh. He had heard long ago that when people are furious beyond words, they sometimes laugh involuntarily. Now, he finally understood the meaning of that phrase.
“I don’t think so at all. Honestly speaking, not killing these bastards outright was already showing great restraint on my part,” Zhang Wen said lightly.
“Damn it, what did you say?!” Enklay, who had entered the hall right behind Gelt, exploded in rage, spewing curses as he stepped forward. Frankly speaking, if Gelt hadn’t been present, Enklay might have already grabbed Zhang Wen by the collar.
Among the injured Thymes students on the ground, several were Enklay’s prized pupils. Seeing the blood on their bodies, Enklay had already been itching to kill Zhang Wen.
The two Thymes instructors’ attitude, without even trying to understand the situation, pushed Zhang Wen’s anger to the limit.
Trying to protect your own, huh? Zhang Wen almost laughed out loud in his heart. Too bad—I’m just as protective too!
As the Themis students came to a halt, Zhang Wen quickly distanced himself from them once more, catching his breath lightly about fifteen meters away. Simultaneously controlling the actions of two Themis students was not only an extremely risky move for Zhang Wen but also drained a significant amount of his energy. Controlling the actions of one martial artist versus controlling two was not as simple as one plus one in terms of difficulty!
To put it into perspective, if controlling the actions of a sixth-tier martial artist was like balancing a coin on a table, then controlling two sixth-tier martial artists simultaneously was not just about balancing two coins on the table. It was akin to balancing another coin on top of the already balanced one!
Honestly, Zhang Wen had no choice but to make such a risky decision. Fortunately, his gamble paid off, and the outcome perfectly matched his expectations.
“So, do you believe me now?” Griffith picked up his energy sword from the floor, straightened his back, and walked over to his companions, shouting back at them.
“Uh…” Several Themis students who had just accused Griffith were now filled with shame, none daring to respond to him. No matter how unbelievable Griffith’s explanation had been, the facts had proven him right.
“Hey, Griffith, we were wrong to blame you earlier. But now doesn’t seem like the right time to discuss this!” A few of the other Themis students, who were more clear-headed, quickly stepped forward, nervously pointing at Zhang Wen, who had once again distanced himself from them.
“Tsk…” Griffith’s gaze followed his companion’s finger, landing on Zhang Wen, and he let out a frustrated click of his tongue.
The techniques Zhang Wen had just displayed had left a deep impression on Griffith and his companions. What was even more bewildering for the Themis students was that they still couldn’t figure out how Zhang Wen had managed to do it! From start to finish, they hadn’t sensed even a trace of combat energy from Zhang Wen. Yet, he had somehow managed to control the bodies of seventh-tier martial artists!
This made the Themis students realize that the seemingly inexplicable—no, the “mysterious and unfathomable”—Almysis Academy martial arts teacher was far more troublesome than they had imagined!
No one knew how his “sorcery” worked or how to counter it. Seeing the four or five companions who had been injured by their own people and were still lying on the ground, the remaining Themis students couldn’t help but wonder: if they continued to fight this guy, who would ultimately emerge victorious?
However, the Themis students present were well aware that they were now in a difficult position.
After all, these Themis students, the so-called “young masters,” had gone to great lengths, even resorting to kidnapping a female student from Almysis Academy, to lure Zhang Wen into their trap. If they let him go so easily, they would undoubtedly become the biggest laughingstock in the history of Themis Academy by tomorrow morning.
Faced with this dilemma, Griffith, the de facto leader of the Themis students, made a decisive move.
“There’s no other way! Everyone, attack together! I refuse to believe this guy’s sorcery can be used indefinitely!” Griffith gritted his teeth, suddenly swung his energy sword forward, and shouted fiercely at his companions.
“Alright!” Griffith’s words gave the Themis students a renewed sense of purpose. They gritted their teeth and responded to his call, launching a third full-scale attack on Zhang Wen.
Of course, compared to the previous two attacks, this third assault by the Themis students lacked the same confidence and instead carried a sense of tragic determination.
The result of this shift in momentum was that the Themis students’ attack became even more chaotic than before, which, in other words, made it even easier for Zhang Wen to utilize his combat skills.
Without the support of his Spring Water Technique’s combat energy, Zhang Wen still managed to navigate effortlessly through the remaining dozen or so disorganized Themis students, relying on his agile footwork and precise judgment.
The Themis students charged at Zhang Wen one after another, like a suicide squad, only to fall one by one under the inexplicable attacks of their own companions.
Moreover, due to the chaotic nature of the Themis students’ attacks, Zhang Wen couldn’t control their movements as perfectly as before. Instead, he could only react reflexively to incoming attacks, redirecting them elsewhere.
As a result, it was inevitable that some Themis students would end up injuring their own comrades. Within just a few minutes, six more Themis students had fallen victim to their companions’ swords.
The agonized screams of their comrades and the blood gushing from their wounds deeply shocked the “geniuses” of Themis Academy. Most of these geniuses usually enjoyed watching combat tournaments and would get excited by the bloody scenes. However, when they realized that they could be the ones bleeding at any moment, the geniuses felt no excitement—only an increasing sense of fear.
Finally, the girl who had earlier taken out a surveillance device to record Zhang Wen was the first to break down. After narrowly avoiding a slash from a companion’s energy sword that nearly grazed her cheek, the girl’s already sluggish movements came to an abrupt halt.
“No… no… no!” The girl’s eyes widened in terror, her voice trembling as she muttered a few words before suddenly letting out a scream. She threw down her energy sword and turned to flee the training hall.
The girl’s escape triggered an avalanche effect among the Themis students. The others didn’t last much longer before they, too, screamed in panic, abandoning their attack on Zhang Wen and fleeing toward the exit.
In their panic, the Themis students who had locked the door themselves forgot who had the key. So, they simply swung their energy swords, cutting the lock on the training hall door in two.
Clang! The energy sword severed the iron lock and struck the steel door of the training hall with a loud metallic clang.
“Tch! You cowards!” Griffith shouted angrily at his fleeing companions.
During the earlier assault on Zhang Wen, Griffith had been the most aggressive, which also meant he had been “controlled” by Zhang Wen the most and had suffered the most attacks from his own companions. His fear of Zhang Wen’s “sorcery” far exceeded that of his peers. Seeing his companions flee, Griffith, who had been holding on by sheer willpower, finally couldn’t take it anymore.
As for the injured lying on the ground, Griffith could only apologize to them in his heart. After all, Zhang Wen was still an instructor at Almysis Academy and wouldn’t take their lives.
But just as Griffith feinted with his sword and prepared to make his escape, he was suddenly shocked to see that the Themis students who had just fled had all returned, hanging their heads low.
What now? Griffith was stunned. He certainly didn’t think his companions had suddenly had a change of heart and returned to help him. Seeing the dejected looks on their faces, Griffith knew they must have been driven back. And the person who could turn these “geniuses” into obedient lambs was someone who could be counted on one hand within Themis Academy.
Regardless of which of these figures had driven the geniuses back into the training hall, Griffith and his companions had thoroughly embarrassed themselves today.
Damn it! Griffith cursed inwardly, quickly sheathing his energy sword and walking over to his companions who had been driven back.
“It’s Instructor Gelt, Teacher Enclair, and a female instructor from Almysis Academy’s Mental Arts Department named Ilina,” a Themis student who was on good terms with Griffith whispered dejectedly, naming a few names.
“Oh!” Griffith nodded gloomily, finally understanding why his companions had suddenly become so obedient.
In front of Gelt, the top martial arts instructor at Themis Academy, even Link, who was hailed as “Themis Academy’s greatest genius of all time,” had to show utmost respect. These self-proclaimed “geniuses” certainly didn’t dare to act out.
Seeing Griffith and the returned Themis students standing obediently to the side, Zhang Wen guessed that instructors from Themis Academy had arrived. So, Zhang Wen didn’t bother with Griffith and his group anymore. Instead, he walked straight over to the three girls and casually cut the ropes binding them.
Not long after, the Themis students who had just fled the training hall were all driven back. Then, Ilina and two stern-faced Themis instructors entered the training hall together.
Among the two Themis instructors, Enclair had met Zhang Wen several times in Casares, so Zhang Wen recognized him immediately. The other instructor, a burly man with a thick beard, was unfamiliar to Zhang Wen. However, seeing the five-star badge on his shoulder, Zhang Wen realized he was Gelt, the head martial arts instructor at Themis Academy and a Saint-tier martial artist.
As they entered the training hall, Ilina and the two Themis instructors first noticed the injured Themis students scattered around. Seeing the horrifying wounds and the pools of blood on the floor, the three instructors’ expressions grew even darker.
“Instructor Zhang Wen,” Gelt glared fiercely at the bewildered Griffith before turning his cold gaze to Zhang Wen, “our students are too unruly and acted recklessly by playing a prank on a visiting instructor. That is indeed their fault. I can understand you teaching them a lesson. However, as a representative instructor of the martial arts department, don’t you think it’s excessive to injure the students to this extent?”
“Excessive?” Gelt’s cold and angry tone made Zhang Wen laugh involuntarily. He had long heard that when people are extremely angry, they sometimes laugh uncontrollably. Now, Zhang Wen understood what that meant.
“Why don’t I think so? Honestly, I’ve shown considerable restraint by not outright killing these bastards,” Zhang Wen said in the most casual tone.
“What the hell are you saying?!” Enclair, who had entered the training hall right after Gelt, exploded in anger, cursing loudly. Honestly, if Gelt hadn’t been present, Enclair might have already grabbed Zhang Wen by the collar.
Among the injured Themis students on the ground, several were Enclair’s prized students. Seeing their bloodied state, Enclair had long wanted to kill Zhang Wen.
The two Themis instructors’ biased attitudes pushed Zhang Wen’s anger to its peak.
Trying to protect your own, huh? Zhang Wen almost laughed out loud in his heart. What a coincidence! There’s someone here who’s also protective!
“Didn’t you hear me loud enough? Are you deaf? I told you to keep your little thugs in check. Make sure they know they won’t always be so lucky to keep their lives!” Zhang Wen glanced at the furious Enclair and continued to spit out venomous words.
“Instructor Zhang Wen, watch your language,” Ilina suddenly frowned at Zhang Wen, as if he had caused her immense embarrassment. Her natural aversion to the martial arts department and Zhang Wen’s almost rude language made her have no intention of siding with him.
Although Ilina was also from Almysis Academy, Zhang Wen wasn’t the least bit surprised by her betrayal. “Watch my language?” Zhang Wen sneered sarcastically, “Instructor Ilina, before you spout such nonsense, shouldn’t you first tell the two gentlemen beside you to watch their behavior?”
“You…” Hearing her warning being called “nonsense” by Zhang Wen, Ilina’s eyebrows shot up in anger, and she gritted her teeth.
“Enough! I won’t tolerate anyone insulting Themis Academy…” Gelt once again gave Zhang Wen a cold look, his eyes filled with an unyielding authority. His attitude was as if he were a judge sitting high on a bench, and Zhang Wen was the criminal about to be judged.
“Enough!” Before Gelt could finish, Zhang Wen had already thrown the word “enough” back at him. Like Gelt, Zhang Wen also looked at him coldly, as if he were the one being judged.
Whether it was Gelt and Enclair from Themis Academy or Ilina from Almysis Academy, all were stunned by the authoritative “enough” from Zhang Wen. The Themis students standing behind the instructors were equally shocked.
“Teacher Zhang Wen, watch your language,” Irina suddenly interjected, her brows furrowed in clear displeasure, as if Zhang Wen had deeply embarrassed her. Her natural disdain for physical arts and Zhang Wen’s almost crude tone left Irina with no inclination whatsoever to side with him.
Though both belonged to Almace Academy, Zhang Wen was not the least bit surprised by Irina’s betrayal toward a fellow faculty member. “Watch my language?” Zhang Wen sneered sarcastically. “Teacher Irina, before you utter such nonsense, shouldn’t you remind these two gentlemen here to first watch their own behavior?”
“You…” Hearing her warning dismissed as “nonsense,” Irina’s anger flared, her eyebrows furrowing as she clenched her teeth tightly.
“Enough! I will not tolerate anyone insulting Thymes…” Gelt shot Zhang Wen another icy glare, his eyes filled with an unyielding authority. His attitude was as if he were a judge seated high on a tribunal and Zhang Wen was a criminal awaiting judgment.
“Enough!” Before Gelt could finish, Zhang Wen cut him off with the same word, just as coldly. He stared back at Gelt as if Gelt were merely a defendant awaiting trial.
Whether it was Gelt and Enklay from Thymes Academy or Irina from Almace Academy, all were stunned speechless by Zhang Wen’s authoritative tone. The Thymes students standing behind the instructors were equally shocked.
The physical combat instructor of Almither Academy had actually reprimanded Gelt, the head instructor of Themis Academy, in front of everyone! Those spineless jellyfish-like individuals—when had they ever dared to show such audacity?!
Everyone’s eyes were wide with shock, staring blankly at Zhang Wen. The Temesis students were so stunned, they even forgot that the man being scolded was their own academy’s head instructor!
The first to recover from the unbelievable shock was Enklay. When this instructor from Themis finally realized what Zhang Wen had just done, his eyes instantly turned as furious as a raging dragon.
“You little…” Enklay’s anger swelled, his neck thickening with rage.
“Shut up!” Before Enklay could finish his curse, Zhang Wen had already shouted him down with an even louder voice.
“Enough of your nonsense!” Zhang Wen swept his icy gaze over Gelt and Enklay. “Insulting Themis Academy? Pfft! Honor isn’t given by others—it’s earned! You dare to do shameful things, yet expect me to speak up for you?”
“You… you…” Zhang Wen’s merciless words left Enklay sputtering in rage, nearly choking.
“What about me? Did I say anything wrong? Think you’re angry? Your little temper tantrum is nothing—my rage dwarfs yours a thousand times!”
“Teacher Zhang Wen!” Irina flushed red with anger too.
But Irina’s fury wasn’t so much about Zhang Wen’s harsh words toward Gelt and Enklay. Honestly, what did she care if Zhang Wen insulted the Themis students? What she couldn’t tolerate, however, was that Zhang Wen had dared to ignore her warning—and was now growing even more brazen!
In previous delegations from Almither Academy, the Psychic Arts Department had always naturally been the leader. The Physical Combat instructors had always obeyed their commands without question. When Irina realized Zhang Wen had disappeared from the inn, she immediately brought Enklay and Gelt straight to the training hall.
In Irina’s mind, the moment she arrived at the training hall, someone like Zhang Wen would immediately burst into grateful tears, kneeling at her feet begging for mercy. So, she had firmly decided to give this “foolish” physical combat instructor a serious lesson. In front of Gelt and Enklay, she had already boasted that she would properly “discipline” Zhang Wen.
Yet now, in front of Gelt, Enklay, and a group of Themis students, Zhang Wen had completely ignored Irina’s presence. Or rather, this mere representative of the Physical Combat Department had the audacity to disregard the dignity of the Psychic Arts Department! Such an “insult” was unbearable for Irina, who had always secretly looked down on Zhang Wen.
He had clearly disobeyed the orders of Head Instructor Kaelena, yet now he dared to act so self-righteously, as if he were in the right all along! Irina glared at Zhang Wen, teeth clenched, nearly wishing she could bite him to death.
“Oh! Instructor Irina, when did you join Themis Academy?”
“What… what did you say?!”
“Didn’t I make myself clear enough? Rushing to blame others without understanding the facts, acting as if nothing they themselves did matters—wasn’t that exactly the way these two instructors from Themis have always behaved?” Zhang Wen’s sharp sarcasm mocked both Irina and Themis Academy together.
“Cough… cough…” Irina was so humiliated by Zhang Wen’s mockery that she couldn’t utter a word. Her face flushed red, her breath heavy and ragged, her eyes filled with growing hatred toward the man before her.
Yet just as Irina was nearly gnashing her teeth in fury, the three girls Zhang Wen had rescued finally untied the ropes binding their hands and feet and stepped out from behind the pile of equipment at the back of the training hall.
“J… Jallit, Amelice? What are you doing here?” Seeing the sudden appearance of the female students, Irina, the thirty-year-old Psychic Arts instructor, was greatly shocked.
“Hmph! Do you even need to ask? Obviously, it was them!” Without waiting for Zhang Wen to answer, Xiao Xi lifted her pretty face, casting a furious glare at the Themis students in the distance.
“That’s impossible!” Irina instinctively shouted. Admitting Xiao Xi’s words as true would mean Zhang Wen’s actions had been justified all along! Irina couldn’t bear such an embarrassing realization.
Unfortunately, when Irina turned her head to look at the Themis students, her heart sank.
All the Themis students had their heads bowed low. Even a fool could see that Xiao Xi was right.
“You idiots! Did you really lay hands on the Almither students?!” Enklay gritted his teeth, glaring at his subordinates.
“We… we…” The Themis students all lowered their heads even further, terrified that lifting their faces might make them the scapegoat for Enklay’s anger.
Griffith, being the leader of the Themis students, naturally had to step up to defend his juniors. With a hesitant glance, he slightly raised his head and muttered to Enklay.
“Well… it’s not entirely our fault. We brought them back because they agreed to come with us…”
“What did you say?!” Xiao Xi’s anger flared, her hair practically standing on end, her battle aura crackling with fury.
“You’re lying! We barely said a word to you before you dragged us here!”
“You lying bastard! I’ll kill you!” Xiao Xi’s ninth-stage battle aura instantly surged to its peak as she furiously charged toward Griffith.
“Huh?” Griffith was momentarily stunned by the power Xiao Xi displayed, but quickly turned elated, shouting excitedly at Gelt and Enklay.
“Look! Look, Head Instructor Gelt, Instructor Enklay!”
“Hmph!” Gelt and Enklay’s expressions initially showed shock the moment Xiao Xi erupted, but quickly softened. Irina, meanwhile, proudly lifted her chin again.
“Xiao Xi!” Zhang Wen reached out and grabbed the furious Xiao Xi, preventing the enraged girl from charging forward.
“Why are you stopping me? That guy is lying! When did we ever agree to anything they did?” Xiao Xi shouted furiously at Zhang Wen.
“Is that so? Xiao Xi, lying isn’t the behavior of a good student. Teacher Zhang Wen, how do you normally teach your students? Don’t disgrace Almither Academy in front of outsiders.” Irina’s tone sounded serious and stern, as if she were truly furious that Xiao Xi’s actions had tarnished Almither’s reputation. But in reality, her eyes fixed on Zhang Wen were filled with mockery and disdain.
“Teacher Zhang Wen, the situation is now quite clear,” Enklay smirked, spreading his hands mockingly. “Though I don’t know why your student chose to cooperate with ours, it’s now certain—they weren’t forced by my students.”
“What nonsense are you spouting?!”
“Xiao Xi!” Zhang Wen grabbed the enraged girl, who had nearly lost her mind with fury and was about to fight Enklay. His gaze on her was unusually stern.
The martial arts instructor of Almicus Academy actually publicly reprimanded Gelt, the chief instructor of Themis Academy, in front of everyone! Those spineless creatures who always seemed like soft-bodied invertebrates, when did they ever muster such audacity?!
Everyone’s eyes widened in shock as they stared at Zhang Wen. The students of Themis Academy were so stunned that they even forgot that the person Zhang Wen had scolded was their own chief instructor!
The first to snap out of this unbelievable shock was Enclair. When this instructor of Themis Academy realized what Zhang Wen had just done, his eyes instantly turned as furious as a raging dragon.
“You bastard…” Enclair’s neck bulged with anger.
“Shut up!” Before Enclair could finish his curse, Zhang Wen’s louder voice cut him off.
“Enough of your nonsense!” Zhang Wen’s icy gaze swept over Gelt and Enclair. “Insulting Themis Academy? Spare me! Dignity isn’t given by others; it’s earned! If you dare to act shamelessly, don’t expect me to speak well of you!”
“You… you…” Enclair was so enraged by Zhang Wen’s merciless words that he seemed on the verge of collapsing.
“What about me? Am I wrong? You think you’re angry? Your anger is nothing compared to mine—mine is a thousand times greater!”
“Teacher Zhang Wen!” Irina’s face flushed with anger as well.
However, Irina’s anger wasn’t primarily directed at Zhang Wen’s disrespect toward Gelt and Enclair. Frankly, no matter how Zhang Wen humiliated the people of Themis Academy, what did it have to do with her? What Irina couldn’t tolerate was that Zhang Wen had the audacity to ignore her warnings and was becoming increasingly brazen!
In previous delegations from Almicus Academy, the psychic arts department had always been the natural leader. The martial arts instructors had always obeyed the commands of the psychic arts department without question. This time, as soon as Irina discovered that Zhang Wen had disappeared from the hotel, she immediately brought Enclair and Gelt to the training hall.
In Irina’s imagination, as soon as she arrived at the training hall, Zhang Wen would be weeping with gratitude, kneeling at her feet, begging for her help. So, Irina had confidently resolved to teach this “foolish” martial arts instructor a profound lesson! In front of Gelt and Enclair, she had already boasted that she would “discipline” Zhang Wen properly.
But now, in front of Gelt, Enclair, and a group of Themis students, Zhang Wen completely ignored Irina’s presence. Or rather, this mere representative of the martial arts department dared to disregard the dignity of the psychic arts department! Such an “insult” was unbearable for Irina, who had always looked down on Zhang Wen from the bottom of her heart.
“You’re the one who disobeyed Chief Instructor Katerina’s orders, and now you have the nerve to act all high and mighty, as if you’re in the right!” Irina glared at Zhang Wen, her teeth clenched so tightly that she felt like biting him to death.
“Oh! Instructor Irina, when did you join Themis Academy?”
“What… what are you talking about?!”
“Isn’t it clear? Jumping to conclusions without distinguishing right from wrong, always blaming others while excusing yourself—isn’t that the way these two Themis Academy instructors operate?” Zhang Wen’s biting sarcasm mocked both Irina and Themis Academy.
“Cough…” Irina was left speechless by Zhang Wen’s taunts. Her face flushed red as she panted heavily, feeling that the man before her was becoming more and more despicable.
However, just as Irina was nearly grinding her teeth in fury, the three girls Zhang Wen had rescued finally untied the ropes binding their hands and feet and emerged from the pile of equipment at the back of the training hall.
“Jia… Jalit, Amilis? What are you doing here?” The thirty-year-old psychic arts instructor Irina was shocked to see the suddenly appearing female students.
“Hmph! Isn’t it obvious? It’s their doing!” Without waiting for Zhang Wen to answer, Xiao Xi raised her delicate face and shot a resentful glance at the Themis students in the distance.
“That’s impossible!” Irina instinctively exclaimed. Admitting that Xiao Xi was telling the truth would mean that Zhang Wen’s previous actions were justified! Irina couldn’t bear such an awkward situation.
Unfortunately, when Irina turned to look at the group of Themis students, her heart sank to the bottom.
The Themis students all hung their heads low. Even a fool could see that Xiao Xi was right!
“You idiots! Did you really lay hands on the students of Almicus Academy?” Enclair glared at his students, his teeth clenched in anger.
“We… we…” The Themis students all desperately lowered their heads, afraid that anyone who looked up would become the example Enclair would make of them.
Griffith, after all, was the leader of the Themis students. Naturally, he had to step up and speak for his underlings at this moment. He timidly raised his head slightly and mumbled to Enclair.
“Well… it’s not entirely our fault. They did kind of go along with it when we brought them back…”
“What did you say?!” Xiao Xi’s hair stood on end in anger, her combat energy crackling.
“I’m not wrong! As soon as we started talking to you, you came with us willingly!”
“You lying scoundrel, I’ll kill you!” Xiao Xi’s ninth-tier combat energy instantly surged to its maximum, and she was about to charge at Griffith in fury.
“Huh?” The strength Xiao Xi displayed in her anger stunned Griffith, but he quickly became ecstatic and shouted at Gelt and Enclair, “Chief Instructor Gelt, Instructor Enclair, look, look!”
“Hmph!” Gelt and Enclair’s expressions first showed surprise at Xiao Xi’s outburst, but then quickly softened. Irina, on the other hand, proudly raised her chin.
“Xiao Xi!” Zhang Wen grabbed the furious girl, preventing her from charging forward.
“What are you doing? That guy is twisting the truth! When did we ever agree to their shameless actions?” Xiao Xi shouted at Zhang Wen in frustration.
“Is that so, Xiao Xi? Lying isn’t something a good child should do. Teacher Zhang Wen, how do you usually teach your students? Don’t embarrass Almicus Academy in front of outsiders.” Irina’s tone sounded serious and stern, as if she were deeply angered by Xiao Xi’s behavior tarnishing the reputation of Almicus Academy. But in reality, the look she gave Zhang Wen was full of mockery.
“Teacher Zhang Wen, the situation is quite clear now,” Enclair said with a mocking smile, spreading his hands. “Although I don’t know why your students would cooperate with ours, it seems certain that they weren’t forced by my students.”
“Are you kidding me?!”
“Xiao Xi!” Zhang Wen grabbed the enraged girl, who was almost ready to fight Enclair, and gave her a stern look unlike any before.
“Teacher Zhang!” Xiao Xi pouted in frustration. “They clearly…”
“Ha! This student, blaming others first isn’t a good habit,” Enclair said with a relaxed smile. “I know exactly how capable Griffith and his group are. If you didn’t cooperate with them willingly, how could they possibly subdue a ninth-tier martial artist like you?”
“This… this…” Xiao Xi was left speechless by Enclair’s question. She muttered a few words in extreme frustration but couldn’t come up with any reasonable explanation. Finally, she could only lower her head in defeat, the once “battle-ready” tuft of red hair on her head now drooping limply.
“Teacher Zhang Wen, although this time your students voluntarily cooperated with Griffith and his group, I can understand your concern for their safety. So, as long as you apologize to the students you injured and to Chief Instructor Gelt, whom you just insulted, we can let this matter go.” Enclair took a few steps closer to Zhang Wen, smiling as if bestowing a favor.
“Hmph! Miss, accusing others before being accused isn’t a good habit.” Enklay smiled easily. “I know exactly how capable Griffith and the others are. If you weren’t willing to cooperate, what power could they possibly have to subdue a ninth-stage warrior like you?”
“This… this is…” Enraged and speechless, Xiao Xi could only mumble a few words under her breath, unable to come up with a reasonable explanation. Finally, she lowered her head in defeat, the fiery red strand of hair on her head drooping down lifelessly.
“Teacher Zhang Wen, although your student willingly cooperated with Griffith and the others, I can understand your concern for their safety. So, if you now apologize to the students you injured and to Head Instructor Gelt whom you insulted, we can let bygones be bygones.” Enklay took a few steps closer to Zhang Wen, smiling as if offering mercy.
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